Interaction of Strong Electromagnetic Waves with Unmagnetized Pair Plasmas

Physical Review Letters 2026 Open access

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Authors: Navin Sridhar, Emanuele Sobacchi, Lorenzo Sironi, Masanori Iwamoto, Daniel Grošelj, Brandon K. Russell
DOI: 10.1103/h7fg-xjby
Cited by: 1
References: 37

Abstract

We investigate analytically and numerically the interaction of strong electromagnetic waves with unmagnetized pair plasmas. We show that the interaction is governed by a single nonlinearity parameter, ϵ_{p}, defined as the ratio of the wave strength parameter to the wave frequency in units of the plasma frequency (with both frequencies measured in the plasma rest frame prior to the interaction). When ϵ_{p}1, the electromagnetic pulse acts as a relativistic piston and drives a shock into the plasma. Our results establish a framework for the interaction of strong electromagnetic waves with pair plasmas, a process relevant for intense radio pulses from neutron stars and for next-generation pair plasma experiments at multipetawatt laser facilities.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Dust and Plasma Wave Phenomena Ionosphere and magnetosphere dynamics Plasma Diagnostics and Applications

Publication details

Journal / source
Physical Review Letters
Publisher
American Physical Society (APS)
Volume
137
Issue
4
Pages
045102–045102
Publication date
12 June 2026
Language
EN